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Since ancient times, emerald has been synonymous with “green.” However, there are so many more green gems, giving you plenty of alternatives…

“The Stone of Heaven,” jade has an elegance unmatched by any other gem. Long used for tools and even musical instruments due to its…

A rare lapidary rock, maw sit sit has been used to make beautiful jewelry pieces and decorative objects. This article will cover everything you…

The commercial part of the lapidary business favors new mine finds and exotic or rare materials. As gem carvers, these reasons draw us to these materials,…

Some treatments add lab-created material to mined gemstones. The part-natural, part-synthetic nature of these gems has prompted some in the…

Your customers may want to know if a green gemstone in their jewelry piece is jade. As a gemologist, you’ll need to determine if the stone is jadeite…

We often recommend that novice gemologists send gems that are difficult to identify to a laboratory for testing. Gemological and mineralogical…

Jade is one of the most popular gemstones, but its many treatments and imitations can frustrate gemologists and gem dealers. Learn how to identify…

Gem carvings vary widely in size, shape, and quality. You can find small, simple carvings with a glued-on bail for just a couple of dollars. Fine…